Myer Centre, Adelaide
| Myer Centre Adelaide | |
|---|---|
 Exterior of the Myer Centre, Adelaide | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Retail, Office |
| Location | Adelaide, Australia |
| Address | 14/38 Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000 |
| Coordinates | 34°55′20″S 138°36′2″E / 34.92222°S 138.60056°E |
| Construction started | 1988 |
| Completed | 1991 |
| Cost | A$ 1 billion |
| Landlord | Starhill Global REIT |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 75 m (246 ft) |
| Roof | 68 m (223 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 21 (14 floors above ground & 7 floors underground) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | [Buchan, Laird and Bawden] |
| Developer | REMM Group Ltd |
| Structural engineer | Wallbridge and Gilbert |
| Main contractor | REMM Constructions Pty Ltd & Allco Newsteel Pty Ltd |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Myer Centre is a five-story shopping centre in the heart of the Adelaide city centre, South Australia. A significant landmark in Rundle Mall, it houses South Australia's largest Myer store alongside over 80 smaller shops and a large underground food court.[1] It is also accessible from North Terrace and an airbridge to David Jones. As of 2024[update] it is owned by Starhill Global REIT.[2]
History
[edit]The North Terrace side of the Myer Centre includes two heritage-listed buildings, which were integrated using facadism into the centre upon construction. Listed on the South Australian Heritage Register, Shell House was constructed in 1931 and Goldsbrough House in 1935.[2] Goldsbrough House was designed for Goldsbrough, Mort & Co. by prominent SA architect F. Kenneth Milne. An extra storey was added in 1936, and the building was state heritage-listed in 1986. The old lobby, lift, and stairwell were refurbished and integrated to the Myer department store of The Myer Centre.[3][4]
1980s and 1990s
[edit]The shopping centre was constructed between 1988 and 1991, undertaken by developers REMM Group Ltd, at a cost of A$1 billion, making it the most expensive retail development in Australia at the time.[5] REMM Group Ltd built the centre directly after the Myer Centre in Brisbane, which shares many architectural and décor elements. It was designed by [[Buchan, Laird and Bawden]][6] and built by structural engineers Wallbridge and Gilbert.[7][8][a] The postmodern design emphasised a Victorian theme, utilising ornate railing and fittings in brass and heritage green, with terrazzo floor tiles. A six-storey office tower named Terrace Towers was constructed behind the two historic buildings, sitting atop the centre.[2]
Between 1991 and 1998, the upper level of the interior atrium housed a family entertainment centre named Dazzeland. It was home to Australia's only indoor rollercoaster, which circled a 5-story void on a figure-8 track.[9] Named both Jazz Junction and Blues Bullet, and manufactured by Zamperla, the rollercoaster drew significant attention to the centre upon opening.[10] It was removed along with other attractions when Dazzeland closed in 1998, with the centre management refocusing to create a more luxurious shopping experience.[11]
2000s to 2020s
[edit]In 2013, the interior of the complex underwent major renovation aimed at enhancing the shopping experience. The $30 million project modernized the food court with an "urban" style and updated the entire interior color scheme, shifting from beige, heritage green, and brass accents to a predominantly white, minimalist design.[12] The elevators were clad to appear more modern, all accessible floors retiled to white, and escalators to the now vacant Floor 5 removed entirely.
In 2023, the building underwent significant external renovation. With Myer seeking damages and the option to terminate its lease over insufficient tenancy levels, the centre quickly moved to attract new tenants.[13] A new façade was added over the original, featuring a modernised LED-lit exterior which illuminates at night.[14]
Layout
[edit]The Myer Centre comprises two main sections: an eight-level open atrium with elevators and escalators at the sides, and the Myer store with its own dedicated escalators and elevators.[9] The centre design has faced criticism for its vertical and complex layout, which creates difficulty in moving between floors. Higher levels have many retail vacancies and a lack of foot traffic.[15] The vertical and multi-storey design of the atrium has raised safety concerns, with incidents involving falls from upper levels over the years.[16][17]
- Lower Ground: Food court
- Ground Floor: Main entrance to Myer, Uniqlo, Shiels Jewellers, Platypus Shoes, jewellery and beauty stores
- Upper Ground: specialty stores, mostly vacant
- Level 1: Ally Fashion, Valleygirl, Cheep Store, specialty stores
- Level 2: Toyworld, Rivers, specialty stores
- Level 3: Lincraft, specialty stores
- Level 4 (formerly Dazzeland lower floor, no public access): Entirely occupied by CDW Studios, a VFX training company.
- Level 5 (formerly Dazzeland upper floor): no longer open to the general public, escalators removed, and in original unrenovated condition.
- Level 6 (freight lift access only): Centre Management [18]
-
Inside the Myer Centre in 2007, before remodelling, looking down from the 5th floor -
Inside the Myer Centre in 2014, after remodelling
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ See also Pirie Street Brewery for more about Wallbridge and Gilbert.
References
[edit]- ^ "Centre Info". Myer Centre Adelaide. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
- ^ a b c "Myer Centre Adelaide". Starhill Global REIT. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Myer Centre (former Goldsbrough House)". Experience Adelaide. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Goldsbrough House: 172-174 North Terrace" (PDF). City of Adelaide. 1996.
The internal lift lobbies and stairwell are of particular note and have survived a major refurbishment to link the Myers department store through to North Terrace. The projected redevelopment of Myers will retain little more than the North Terrace facade.... The text in this Information Sheet was copied from the Heritage of the City of Adelaide: An Illustrated Guide (1996).
- ^ "14: Case Study in Credit Management: The Remm Group (appendix A)". The Management of Credit: Case Studies. Vol. 6. The Auditor General's Department South Australia.
- ^ "Full Record: Architecture Australia: July 1988 to December 1993". PMI Victorian History Library. 7 June 1990. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
July-August 1992... The Adelaide Remm Myer Centre by Malone Buchan Laird and Bawden p50.
- ^ "Our history". Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Geoff Wallbridge and Mark Gilbert create a versatile engineering consultancy force in Adelaide and nationally". Adelaide AZ. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Myer Centre". Emporis. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
- ^ "Blues Bullet - Dazzeland (Adelaide, South Australia, Australia)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ Williams, Tim (25 October 2012). "Remembering the razzle of Dazzeland". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "Myer Centre in Adelaide to undergo $30 million renovation". 27 March 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ Zhu, Michelle (23 March 2023). "Starhill Global Reit in dispute with Myer over Adelaide mall lease". Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ Rice, Katelin (21 April 2024). "Adelaide's iconic Myer Centre reveals striking $15M transformation". Glam Adelaide. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "Shopper falls multiple stories in Rundle Mall Myer centre, Adelaide". Nation Online. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "What happened to Adelaide's Dazzeland?". ABC News. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "Myer Centre Adelaide Directory". Myer Centre Adelaide. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
External links
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